John mccltjbe



May 22, 1928.

J. M CLURE DUMPING BARGE OR VESSEL Filed Feb. 16, 1928- twrney.

Patented May 22, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT oFFlcE.

JOHN MCGLURE, OF BOMBAY, INDIA.

DUMPING BARGE OR VESSEL.

Application filed February 16, 1928, Serial No. 254,869, and in Great Britain September 22, 1926.

This invention relates to dumping barges or vessels of the kind wherein two hinged, buoyant parts are provided to carry the load and means is provided to lock the two parts together, the arrangement being such that when. the parts are unlocked the weight of the load acts to cause the parts to separate and discharge the load, whereupon the buoyancy of the unloaded parts acts to again bring the said parts together.

The object of my invention is to provide a novel and more eflicient construction of dumping barge or vessel of the hereinbefore indicated kind.

With the above and other objects in view the invention. consists in the construction, combination and arrangement of devices hereinafter described and claimed.

In thedrawings- Figure 1 is an elevation of a dumping barge or vessel.

Figure 2 is a plan view thereof.

Figure 3 is a cross section thereof showing the parts in closed position.

Figure 4i is a cross section thereof showing the parts in the separated or open position.

Referring to the drawings, in the example shown therein the dumping barge or vessel is formed of two parts 1 and 2 symmetrically hinged to turn about aligned points 3 1ying in a plane situated centrally of the said twoparts, the said points being abovethe level of the flat deck 4. The parts 1 and 2 are locked together by the aid of locking bolts 5 and 6 respectively at or about the level of the under side of the dumping barge. The design of the barge is such that when loaded upon its flat deck 1 formed by the upper sides of the parts1 and 2, and the locking bolts 5 and 6 are withdrawn, the

provided on each of the said halves above weight of the load so affects the equilibrium of the parts 1 and 2 that it causes the same to pivot about the hinge points 3' and. thus to tilt or incline towards the middle and at the same time separate to discharge the load in the opening so formed.

The line 7 in Figures 1, 3 and 4 indicates the water line and it will be observed that the fiat deck 4 which carries the load is situated above thewater line.

Furthermore the design of the barge is such that the discharge having taken place, the forces acting are thereby so altered owing to the release of the load and the weight of the outer portions of the parts 1 and 52 which overhang the dischargewater line, that the parts 1 and 2 are self'ciosing to their original position ready for carrying a further load after the parts have again been locked togetherby the aid of the locking bolts 5 and 6. v

I claim- A dumping vessel comprising two complete longitudinal halves; a flat deck part (:5 the water line, upwardly projecting rigid members provided on each of the said deck halves; pivoted means directly hinging the said upwardly projecting members pairwise together and forming a common axis situated vertically above the longitudinal centre line of the vessel and about which both of the said halves turn, and releasable locking means provided on the said halves for looking them against turning about the said common axis.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification at Bombay, India, this 20th day of, January, 1928.

' J UHN MCCLURE. 

